Hardened solar energy collector system

Abstract

A hardened solar thermal energy collector (STEC) system that is adapted to withstand a nuclear detonation or other powerful explosion in the vicinity. The STEC system comprises a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface having a diffractive optical structure and a bottom surface, a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted, an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector rubes and supporting trays, and a secured underground geothermal storage unit fluidly coupled to the array of collector tubes. The housing, the plurality of collector tubes, and the tray are positioned such that topmost portions thereof are at the ground surface level or below.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hardened solar thermal energy collector (STEC) system adapted to withstand a nuclear detonation or other powerful explosion in the vicinity, the system comprising:
 a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface and a bottom surface; 
 a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted; 
 an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector tubes and supporting trays; and 
 a hardened underground geothermal storage unit fluidly coupled to the array of collector tubes; 
 wherein the housing, the plurality of collector tubes, and the tray are positioned such that topmost portions thereof are at the ground surface level or below. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of collector tubes are spaced apart from adjacent tubes by between 0.5 and 1 inch. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of pipe interconnections positioned underneath the plurality of collector tubes, each pipe interconnection fluidly connecting a pair of adjacent collector tubes, the positioning of the pipe interconnections beneath the collector tubes enabling a maximizing of collection area of the plurality of the collector tubes. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a plurality of sensors for determining physical properties of the working fluid; 
 a plurality of valve actuators operative to control movement of the working fluid between the plurality of collector tubes and the underground geothermal storage unit; and 
 a computing device coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of valve actuators, the computing device being configured to execute program instructions that cause the computer device to receive data from the plurality of sensors, process the data received from the sensors, and to control the valve actuators based on the processing of the received data so as to regulate parameters of the working fluid. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes working fluid temperature, pressure, fluid level, and fluid flow rate sensors. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of sensors further includes an electrical generator output sensor of an electrical generator coupled to the system. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a recirculation pump positioned in a fluid path between the array of collector tubes and underground geothermal storage unit. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the underground geothermal storage unit supplies working fluid to a hardened underground turbine operative to generate mechanical energy from thermal energy stored in the working fluid. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the secure underground turbine provides mechanical energy to a hardened underground electrical generator. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of collector tubes has a semi-elliptical cross-section. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper radiation collection surface of each of the plurality of collector tubes has a diffractive optical structure. 
     
     
       12. A hardened solar thermal energy collector apparatus adapted to withstand a nuclear detonation or other powerful explosion in the vicinity, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface and a bottom surface; 
 a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted; and 
 an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector tubes and supporting trays; 
 wherein the housing, the plurality of collector tubes, and the tray are positioned such that topmost portions thereof are at the ground surface level or below. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of collector tubes are spaced apart from adjacent tubes by between 0.5 and 1 inch. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of pipe interconnections positioned underneath the plurality of collector tubes, each pipe interconnection fluidly connecting a pair of adjacent collector tubes, the positioning of the pipe interconnections beneath the collector tubes enabling a maximizing of collection area of the plurality of the collector tubes. 
     
     
       15. A method of operating a hardened solar thermal energy collector (STEC) system including a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface and a bottom surface, a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted, an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector rubes, and a hardened underground geothermal storage unit fluidly coupled to the array of collector tubes via piping interconnects, wherein the housing, the plurality of collector tubes and the try are positioned such that topmost portion thereof are at the ground surface level or below; the method comprising:
 detecting physical parameters of the working fluid in the geothermal storage unit; and 
 regulating flow of the working fluid between the array of collector tubes and the geothermal storage unit, as well as between the geothermal storage unit and a turbine to which the geothermal storage unit supplies heated working fluid, based on the detected physical parameters of the working fluid. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the physical parameters of the working fluid include temperature and pressure. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the physical parameters of the working fluid further include a level of fluid within the geothermal storage unit. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving data indicating an output of an electrical generator to which the turbine provides mechanical energy; 
 regulator the flow of the working fluid between the array of collector tubes and the geothermal storage unit, as well as between the geothermal storage unit and a turbine, based also on the data indicating the output of the electrical generator.